KAI HAKONE REOPENS ON AUGUST 13, 2025 WITH UPGRADED ROOMS (Japan)
Experience authentic Hakone marquetry in a new dedicated space. |
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KAI HAKONE REOPENS ON AUGUST 13, 2025 WITH UPGRADED ROOMS (Japan)
Experience authentic Hakone marquetry in a new dedicated space. |
Category: Worldwide - Japan - Industry economy
vRenovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2025-05-07
 Outdoor hot spring and Yuagari lounge "Ishi-no-ma Room"
Photo credit © Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone, a hot spring inn with river views from all rooms nestled in Hakone Yumoto, will reopen on August 13, 2025.
Reservations will begin on April 22, 2025. All rooms will be transformed into KAI Signature Rooms "Hakone Gokochi (Hakone-esque) Rooms," and two exclusive "Hakone Gokochi Suites" exceeding 110 m² will also be introduced.
The KAI brand's signature hospitality, KAI Cultural Discovery, which allows guests to experience the local traditional culture, will newly feature an experience focused on Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (Hakone Marquetry), the intricate wooden inlay work of the region. Guests will have the opportunity to engage in a part of the creation process in a newly established KAI Cultural Discovery room, gaining insight into this authentic craftsmanship.
Additionally, the Sawa-chaya Tea House will open in the courtyard, offering a relaxing space with seasonal treats.
The inn will be reborn as a place where guests can fully enjoy the charm of Hakone while feeling its history, including its rich nature, traditional crafts, and the culture nurtured by travelers passing along the Tokaido Road, providing a true "Hakone Gokochi" experience (meaning the feeling of being at home in Hakone).
Renewal Highlights of Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
1. Guest Rooms
■ All Rooms to Become KAI Signature Rooms ""Hakone Gokochi (Hakone-esque) Rooms"
"KAI" offers KAI Signature Rooms where guests can experience the local culture. With this renewal, all rooms will become KAI Signature Rooms, designed to capture the essence of Hakone. The redesigned guest rooms newly incorporate artistic representations of travel items that past travelers would have used at inns, featured in the wall art and bed coverings.
View from the guest room
The walls of the living rooms feature artwork inspired by the "sandogasa" (a wide, cone-shaped hat worn by travelers) and "hikimawashi kappa" (a type of raincoat), essential items for those traveling long distances on foot to protect them from sun and rain. The bed coverings showcase an original design incorporating travel necessities like "waraji" (straw sandals) and "chochin" (paper lanterns) that travelers carried. All guest rooms offer views of Mt. Yuzaka and the clear Sukumo River, allowing guests to reflect on the journeys of past travelers while listening to the gentle sound of the river.
■ Luxurious Suite Room Exceeding 110 m² "Hakone Gokochi Suite"
The living area of this suite is divided into a desk space and a lower, sunken sofa area, providing different perspectives and distances from which to enjoy the scenery of Mt. Yuzaka. Guests can also enjoy the seasonal views from the Outdoor hot spring in the guest room, and adjacent to it is a Yuagari lounge called the "Ishi-no-ma Room," complete with a small garden for unwinding after bathing. The suite includes two separate bedrooms and can accommodate up to four guests. By thoughtfully arranging the living spaces, it naturally encourages both shared time together and individual relaxation, making it ideal for family trips with adult children or parents, allowing adults to enjoy each other's company while maintaining a comfortable sense of personal space.
2. KAI Cultural Discovery: Experiencing the Art of Hakone Marquetry in a Dedicated Workshop-like Space
Since its opening in 2012, Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone has collaborated with craftsmen from the "Tsuyuki Woodcraft" workshop, introducing guests to the history and origins of Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (Hakone Marquetry), the intricate wooden inlay work of the Hakone region. The new KAI Cultural Discovery will offer guests the chance to experience a part of the actual creation process of this beautiful craft. While learning about how raw wood is transformed into finished marquetry, guests will work with carefully assembled pieces of wood, called "seed wood," which create various patterns. Using a traditional plane, they will shave thin layers from this "seed wood" to reveal the delicate designs. These shaved pieces can then be made into a photo frame to take home. This experience provides a firsthand understanding of how different types of wood are combined to create stunning patterned marquetry and offers a unique opportunity to witness the creation of this traditional art form.
Furthermore, the space dedicated to this activity is designed to resemble a craftsman's workshop, with unprocessed logs used as wall decorations. A shop featuring Hakone marquetry works will be located next to the workshop, allowing guests to fully appreciate the origins and artistry of this local craft, from the raw materials to the finished pieces.
3. Public Space: The "Sawa-chaya Tea House," a Relaxing Hub for Guests
The "Sawa-chaya Tea House," which will open in the courtyard, is a relaxing space inspired by the teahouses that once lined the Hakone Road, a historically challenging part of the Tokaido Road where travelers sought rest. The name "Sawa Chaya" has multiple meanings: "sawa" referring to the ravine of the Sukumo River where the inn is located, "sawasawa" representing the sound of trees swaying in the lush courtyard, and "sawa" (meaning "tea gathering") representing the moments of conversation that naturally arise while enjoying tea. It embodies the desire for guests to strengthen their connections with loved ones, just as travelers once connected at teahouses. Upon arrival, staff will serve tea and Japanese sweets as hosts of the tea house, and after dinner, herbal tea and sake will be available. It is designed as a welcoming space that guests will want to visit repeatedly, whether for a moment of relaxation after bathing or a brief rest before departing.
About Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
Hakone Yumoto Onsen in Kanagawa Prefecture is known as the gateway to Hakone and is one of Japan's leading hot spring areas with a history of 1200 years. It boasts numerous hot spring sources, each with different mineral compositions and health benefits. When the Tokaido Road connecting Yumoto to Hakone was established in the early Edo period (17th-19th centuries), Hakone grew into a post town, serving as a vital transportation hub. Later in this period, its abundant hot spring waters became a popular destination for travelers seeking overnight therapeutic baths (*1). Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone is located along the historic Hakone Highway, which once led to Hakone Pass, dating back to the Edo period. Situated facing the Sukumo River and surrounded by nature, it offers views of Mt. Yuzaka, the source of its natural hot springs. The concept of the inn is "A hot spring retreat offering the Hakone Gokochi (Hakone-esque) experience, immersed in the history of the Tokaido Road." Throughout the inn, the design and hospitality evoke the spirit of the travelers who once journeyed along this important route. By bathing in the historic and famous hot springs and being soothed by the changing seasons, while contemplating the travelers who contributed to Hakone's development, guests will discover the deep history and traditions of Hakone during their stay.
About KAI
KAI is a brand of hot spring ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) with 23 properties across Japan, operated by Hoshino Resorts. With the concept "Authentic yet new," it aims to provide hospitality that meets modern needs while preserving the beauty of the seasons, Japanese aesthetics, and traditions. A key feature is KAI Cultural Discovery, offering guests experiences of local traditional culture and crafts, as well as KAI Signature Rooms, guest rooms designed to reflect the unique culture of each region. In August 2025, "KAI Hakone" in Hakone Yumoto Onsen, Kanagawa Prefecture, will reopen, and "KAI Kusatsu" will newly open in Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma Prefecture in the spring of 2026.
URL: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/brands/kai/
*1 According to the Hakone Town official website.
 KAI Signature Room "Hakone Gokochi Room"
Photo credit © Hoshino Resorts
 Artwork featuring "sandogasa" and "hikimawashi kappa"
Photo credit © Hoshino Resorts
 Bed covering with a design incorporating travel items
Photo credit © Hoshino Resorts
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